The Canucks are coming off an impressive 6-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets, where Lankinen saved 19 of 21 shots (.905 SV%), and he will likely return to the crease on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues. The 29-year-old Lankinen has a 2.53 GAA and .904 SV% in 44 games this season. The Canucks enter Thursday's contest as +128 road underdogs against a Blue squad outscoring their opposition 16-4 during a three-game winning streak.
The red-hot Hurricanes have won seven straight, outscoring their opposition 24-9, and will likely turn to Andersen between the pipes on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. The 35-year-old Andersen was solid in his most recent outing, saving 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings. The veteran goalie has a 2.15 GAA and .912 SV% in 14 games this season (9-5-0). The Hurricanes enter Thursday's contest as significant -347 road favorites against a Sharks squad coming off a 5-1 loss to the Washington Capitals.
The Bruins have been outscored 15-7 during a three-game losing skid and will turn to Swayman between the pipes on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights. Swayman was busy in his most recent outing and allowed four goals on 38 shots (.895 SV%) in a 6-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 26-year-old goalie has a 3.00 GAA and .897 SV% in 49 games this season (20-23-6). The Bruins enter Thursday's contest as sizeable +244 road underdogs against a Golden Knights team that defeated them 4-3 on February 8th.
Nesterenko showed no signs of an injury in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Dallas Stars, scoring a goal in 13:08 time-on-ice, but his status for Thursday's game against the Nashville Predators is up in the air. The 23-year-old Nesterenko is averaging 10:28 time-on-ice and has four points (3G / 1A) in 10 games this season.
Karlsson has not played since January 20th due to a lower-body injury but could return to the lineup on Thursday against the Boston Bruins. The 32-year-old Karlsson is averaging 17:11 time-on-ice and has 18 points (7G / 11A) in 38 games this season. Before his injury, Karlsson only had one point (0G / 1A) in his last 12 games.
Benson is battling an illness and is unlikely to play on Thursday against the Utah Hockey Club. The 19-year-old forward is averaging 14:35 time-on-ice and has 23 points (10G / 13A) in 60 games this season.
Peterka did not play in Buffalo's previous three games but will draw back into the lineup on Thursday against the Utah Hockey Club. The 23-year-old Peterka has a career-high 51 points (19G / 32A) in 61 games this season.
With Marc-Edouard Vlasic (upper body) sidelined on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes, Schuldt will re-enter the lineup. The 29-year-old Schuldt is averaging 14:36 time-on-ice and has zero point in four games this season.
The 37-year-old Vlasic is averaging 15:28 time-on-ice, recording two points (0G / 2A), a -8 plus/minus, and 29 blocks in 17 games this season. Jimmy Schuldt will draw into the lineup as Vlasic's replacement.
Tampa Bay is riding a two-game winning streak and will turn to Vasilevskiy between the pipes on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. Vasilevskiy was excellent in his most recent outing, saving all 21 shots he faced for his fifth shutout of the season in a 2-0 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. The 30-year-old netminder has an impressive 2.24 GAA and .920 SV% in 53 games this season (32-18-3). Tampa Bay enters Thursday's contest as slight -103 underdogs against a Dallas team that has lost three of their last five (2-2-1).
Gibson (lower body) has not played since March 5th, when he allowed two goals on 19 shots (.905 SV%) in an eventual 3-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks, but he will return to the crease on Thursday against the Nashville Predators. The 31-year-old Gibson has a 2.82 GAA and .909 SV% in 26 appearances this season (9-10-2). The Ducks enter Thursday's contest as +149 road underdogs against a Predators squad outscored 7-2 during a three-game losing skid (0-2-1).
Matias Maccelli will draw back into Utah's lineup for the first time since February 8th, resulting in Bjugstad being a healthy scratch. The 32-year-old Bjugstad is averaging 12:29 time-on-ice and has 16 points (5G / 11A) in 55 games this season.
Nick Bjugstad will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres, allowing Maccelli to re-enter the lineup. The 24-year-old Maccelli has not played since Feburary 8th. He has 18 points (8G / 10A) in 52 games this season.
The Oilers have outscored their opposition 12-3 during a three-game winning streak and will likely turn to Skinner between the pipes on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 26-year-old Skinner was solid in his most recent outing, saving 21 of 22 shots (.955 SV%) in a 3-1 win over the New York Rangers. He has a 2.84 GAA and .897 SV% in 46 games this season (23-17-4). The Oilers enter Thursday's contest as slight -111 home favorites against a Jets club coming off a disappointing 6-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.
Oilers' head coach Kris Knoblauch made it clear the team's main priority is having Leon Draisaitl healthy for the playoffs, which could potentially limit his usage down the stretch. The 29-year-old Draisaitl is averaging 21:39 time-on-ice and has 101 points (49G / 52A) in 68 games this season. He had a career-high 55 goals in the 2021-22 season.
The Kings' five-game winning streak snapped in Monday's 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild, when Kuemper allowed two goals on 21 shots (.905 SV%). Still, Kuemper will start for the fifth consecutive game on Thursday when he tends the twine against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 34-year-old Kuemper has a 2.16 GAA and .917 SV% in 39 appearances this season (22-9-7). The Kings enter Thursday's contest as sizeable -260 road favorites against a Blackhawks squad amid a five-game losing skid (0-4-1).
Utah HC is coming off a disappointing 7-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, where Vejmelka was pulled after allowing three goals on 15 shots (.800 SV%). Still, he will likely return to the crease on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 28-year-old Czech goalie has a 2.50 GAA and .908 SV% in 45 appearances this season (19-18-6). Utah enters Thursday's contest as -171 home favorites against a Sabres team riding a two-game winning streak.
The Panthers have lost two straight (0-2-0) and hope to return to the win column on Thursday with Bobrovsky tending the twine against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Bobrovsky struggled in his previous outing, allowing three goals on 15 shots (.800 SV%) in a 3-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. The 36-year-old goalie has a 2.51 GAA and .906 SV% in 45 games this season (28-15-2). The Panthers enter Thursday's contest as -185 road favorites against a Blue Jackets squad that has been outscored 10-1 in their last three games (0-3-0).
Gustafsson only played 13:34 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, and was absent from practice on Thursday due to an undisclosed injury. The 33-year-old Gustafsson is averaging 16:19 time-on-ice, recording 18 points (2G / 16A) and a -19 plus/minus rating in 60 games this season.
